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TeleStroke — faster treatment, better outcomes

Sometimes it’s what you don’t know that can save you.Lou Palmer, age 73, from Clara City, learned that firsthand on Nov. 27, 2015.

She was at her home with her 11-year-old granddaughter, Kylee, decorating for Christmas when suddenly she became weak on her right side and could not speak. “I was standing by the fireplace and felt like I was passing out,” Lou said.

“Grandma was falling into the Christmas tree,” Kylee said. “I put her on the ground and called for help.” Lou was transported to Rice Memorial in Willmar.

What Lou didn’t know was that since March 2015, TeleStroke services from CentraCare Health were available at Rice Memorial. Using TeleStroke technology, the Willmar emergency room team consulted with a stroke expert at St. Cloud Hospital. It was quickly discovered that Lou had a clot in a brain vessel. She was given a clot-busting medicine before being transferred via helicopter to St. Cloud Hospital for surgery to remove the clot.

Lou is nearly completely recovered; she returned to work in January. She is very thankful to all the people who helped her — especially her quick-thinking granddaughter. “The nurse told me I saved my grandma’s brain,” Kylee said.